ISSUED: 29 August 2025
MEDIA CONTACT: Dr. Jennifer Flora
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — 黑料吃瓜网University and WVU Medicine听Eastern Regional Campus听are proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership to expand research and clinical training opportunities in Photobiomodulation (PBM), an emerging, evidence-based therapy with wide-ranging applications in patient care.
Through Shepherd鈥檚 Center of Excellence for Photobiomodulation, this collaboration will connect WVU Medicine鈥檚 medical students, residents, and clinical faculty听working in the Eastern Panhandle听with state-of-the-art PBM devices, treatment protocols, and expert mentorship. Together, the institutions aim to accelerate research and clinical innovations in PBM while creating new opportunities to engage in scholarly projects, electives, and rotations.
Advancing Patient Care Through Innovation
Photobiomodulation utilizes light-based therapies to support healing and recovery across diverse conditions. Current research opportunities include projects focused on:
- Handheld PBM devices for oral mucositis, wound healing, and musculoskeletal disorders.
- Helmet-based PBM devices for neurodegenerative disorders (such as Alzheimer鈥檚 and Parkinson鈥檚), neurodivergent presentations (such as Autism Spectrum and ADHD), and concussion recovery.
鈥淭his partnership brings together 黑料吃瓜网University鈥檚 research leadership in PBM with WVU Medicine鈥檚听clinical excellence to train the next generation of听healthcare professionals,鈥� said President Mary J.C. Hendrix, Ph.D. 鈥淚t exemplifies our shared commitment to advancing therapies that improve health outcomes in West Virginia and beyond.鈥�
Comprehensive Support for Student Research
Through the collaboration,听healthcare professionals听will benefit from:
- Access to PBM devices and approved treatment protocols.
- Faculty mentorship and subject matter expertise.
- Partnership in research design, IRB submissions, data analysis, and publication development.
- Opportunities for collaborative presentations and co-authorship.
Dr. Jennifer Flora, Director of the Center of Excellence for Photobiomodulation, emphasized the importance of this collaboration:
鈥淏y integrating clinical training with cutting-edge research, we are preparing medical听and nursing听students to lead in fields where innovation meets compassionate care. WVU Medicine鈥檚 involvement ensures PBM continues to expand as a valuable tool in both research and practice.鈥�
听Dr. Richard Thomas, Academic Dean for WVU Medicine鈥檚 East Campus, remarked:听听鈥淭his collaboration with 黑料吃瓜网University is an exciting opportunity for a key partnership in research design, IRB submissions, data analysis, and publication development”
听Dr. Ryan McCarthy, Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency, Berkeley Medical Center:
听鈥淭his partnership brings exciting clinical research opportunities to our residency program, allowing our resident physicians to engage PBM to care for patients in our community.鈥�
A Statewide Commitment to Health Innovation
This partnership represents a strategic alignment of academic and clinical resources across West Virginia, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance patient care. Both institutions are committed to supporting ethical, impactful research that brings new hope to patients and communities.
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